This period would give rise to the entity's future success stories and also to the rivalry with Barcelona. The Chamartín stadium had to be rebuilt and a new team had to be put together and brought up to speed for competition. Thanks to Santiago Bernabéu, all these challenges were met with aplomb. It was in this decade that the foundations were set for what would later be recognised as the ‘Best Club of the Twentieth Century’.

The Whites tried to alleviate the effects of the Civil War (1936-39), which left it without some of its most emblematic names. Some important players were brought in, such as Pruden, Corona and Bañón. In 1943, in the semi-final of the cup, Real Madrid met Barcelona. In Les Corts, the eleven azulgranas won 3-0. In the return match, the Whites knocked out their opponent with an extraordinary comeback. Madrid won 11-1, and an eternal rivalry was born.

On the 15th of December 1943, Santiago Bernabéu became the club's president. It was the start of the legendary mandate in which the club pulled off some great deeds. He took charge intent on building bridges between all the clubs. In 1948 he was named president of honour and merit of the Whites “for his extraordinary work and continuing concern for the well-being of the Sociedad Real Madrid Club de Fútbol”.

Real Madrid faced Valencia in the final (June 9th 1946), ten years after the team had won its previous Copa de España. In the Montjuïc stadium the Whites dominated the game, beating Valencia 3-1, to win the cup once more. The mayor of Madrid presented Ipiña with the Sports Medal of the City for his part in 237 official matches. Each player received a leather purse with a one thousand peseta (6€) note.

A dream come true, the Nuevo Chamartín stadium

The Chamartín had become too small to house so many members and fans and the president, Santiago Bernabéu (enlazar ficha), wanted the club to be at the forefront of European football. After 30 months of construction, on the 14th of December 1947 the Nuevo Chamartín stadium was opened. The ground was inaugurated with a friendly match against Os Belenenses and its first La Liga game was against Athletic de Bilbao (5-1).

A dream come true, the Nuevo Chamartín stadium

The Real Madrid Newsletter

Along with the Nuevo Chamartín and the team's triumphs, came the need to communicate with the fans. On the 1st of September 1950 the Real Madrid Newsletter was born. The front page contained a message from Bernabéu: “I hope this Madrid newsletter is a great success. Advice from an old-hand: keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer. Greetings to the merengues”.